Audubon Art Prints: A Collector's Guide to Every Edition [Paperback]

Bill Steiner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2003

By far the most comprehensive guide available to the bird and quadruped prints of John James Audubon (1785-1851), Audubon Art Prints offers buyers, sellers, and collectors an easy-to-use, one-volume source of information for these widely sought-after prints. When Bill Steiner first became interested in acquiring original Audubon prints, he was surprised by the dearth of conveniently accessible, accurate information on the subject. In an effort to catalog all things Audubon, he unearthed obscure references, surveyed the contemporary marketplace, and consulted specialists from around the world. The results of his labors, gathered here in this lavishly illustrated volume, provide an invaluable and fascinating encyclopedic reference.

Addressing one of the more complex aspects of print collection, Steiner clarifies the task of distinguishing the octavo prints of the successive editions of Audubon's Birds of America (1840-1871) and Quadrupeds of North America (1849-1870). He describes the publication histories of each edition since the first; offers information about printers, engravers, and subscribers; and provides practical information on price histories, accessibility, and preservation. Steiner also explores the increasingly popular markets for subsidiary prints, posters, and Audubon ephemera.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

BILL STEINER is a field ecologist and expert bird-watcher who has compiled one of the most significant private collections of Audubon prints in the United States. An accomplished entomologist, herpetologist, and horticulturist, he holds degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. From 1994 to 1996 Steiner worked with the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games as the environmental chief for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Steiner lives in Lithonia, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: University of South Carolina Press (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570035040
• ISBN-13: 978-1570035043
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #811,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource to Amateur Collectors of Audubon Prints, October 25, 2003

By 

Rama Krishna (Birmingham, AL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Audubon Art Prints (Hardcover)

I got my copy a few months ago from Amazon.Com, and essentially read through it cover-to-cover, so to speak. I am an amateur collector of Audubon prints, and an enthusiast of Audubon's life, and the legacy he left behind for all the Americans. I think Bill Steiner's book is an invaluable resource that fills a major void about Audubon's prints - - It provides information on what to look for in collecting prints, which prints have significant value now and likely to appreciate in future, the technical details of production of Havells, Imperials, Biens, and the Octavos, some details on restoration and conservation, tips on internet-based sales, his own assesment of the Quality of various double-elephant folio prints (including modern day real high-quality reproductions such as the Amsterdams and the Princetons),and the names of several Audubon galleries (I didn't know some of them existed until after reading the book). Last but not the least, I enjoyed Bill's sense of humor (I particularly had a good laugh reading the recount of his experience at Christie's Auction House). I only wish his book were available to me a couple of years ago when I first started collecting the prints ! I recommend this book highly.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect launching pad for a jump into Audubon prints, September 23, 2003

By 

Leslie Kostrich "Specialist and dealer in Aud... (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Audubon Art Prints (Hardcover)

As an art dealer specializing in original Audubon prints, I hear from many people who hope the Carolina Parrot print they found in the attic will turn out to be worth a fortune. Finally, there is a book that will help them...and me!

This well-illustrated book is the first to read if you have an interest (old or new) in Audubon prints. The book covers the original prints, the valuable full-sized facsimiles, and the not-so-valuable undersized reproductions. Steiner discusses all the major categories (and editions) of original prints including octavo (small) and folio (large), the birds and animals, the copper-plate etchings and the stone lithographs. He also provides a helpful overview of the vast number of facsimile and reproduction editions in circulation. While not complete, it is remarkably comprehensive and will help answer many an Audubon newcomer's questions.

Novice collectors will find everything they need to begin either a serious or casual exploration of Audubon's art--biography, glossary of terms, authentication guidelines (much easier than you may think!), sample prices, information on dealers and guidance on how to buy or sell prints. Seasoned collectors will find previously unpublished information that disproves or amends rules-of thumb that have been gospel for years; they will also find many new sources for prints, books, and educational pursuits.

Steiner has strong opinions and personal interests with regard to Audubon, and they are reflected in the text, but he is diligent about labeling them as such, and putting the more esoteric of his interests where they belong--in one of the book's many appendices. Overall, he has done an excellent job pulling together information from disparate sources, making available to collectors for the first time much "dealer lore"--information previously known only by Audubon specialists. This is a quick-reading book, and one that both dealers and collectors will refer to for years to come.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unlocking the Door to the World of Audubon Prints, August 4, 2003

By 

Dr. David J. Bottjer (LOS ANGELES, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Audubon Art Prints (Hardcover)

One of the most common stories you hear while visiting purveyors of original Audubon prints is how they constantly receive phone calls asking "is my Audubon print an original?" Of course, this is due to the combination of two phenomena - people have the general notion that Audubon prints are valuable, but there are millions of reproductions out there which, although they may be aesthetically pleasing, are not worth much. How to tell if you hit the jackpot (an Antiques Roadshow moment) without making that phone call? Buy this book. Bill Steiner has written the first extensive treatment on Audubon prints from the viewpoint of the collector. There are lots of books about Audubon out there, and some scholarly books on the original prints (most notably by Susanne Low). But, this book lays out all the knowledge gathered by an avid collector, accumulated over many years of poking through print shops and galleries and examining large numbers of Audubon prints, of all kinds. If you don't have the time to learn all these details the old fashioned way, as Bill Steiner did, then this is your best key to the world of collecting Audubon prints. It is written in an almost folksy style, and is very accessible to the reader. Of great importance to anyone thinking of starting to obtain some of those actually genuine original Audubon prints is an evaluation of how to do this via auction, and in particular, via online auction sites. But, this book is more than just for the beginner, and long-time connoisseurs of Audubon will immensely enjoy it, both for validation of what they already knew, as well as to see if the author knows something they don't!